Digvijaya Singh targets PM Modi, RSS over quota issue

New Delhi: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh today questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment towards reservation policy, contending that his "indoctrination" has been as a 'pracharak' of RSS, which has "opposed" quota for long.

"RSS has been opposing reservation, not only today, but from earlier days. Indoctrination of Modi took place as a pracharak of RSS. Can he detach himself from RSS' ideology?

"And those who are basically opposed to reservation...How can Modiji say that he will prefer to die, but will not let go of reservation? We would like to know Modiji if Mohan Bhagwatji gave you permission to say this," Singh said, referring to the RSS chief.

The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister made the remarks while speaking during the valedictory session of a national seminar 'Contribution of Dr Ambedkar', organised by Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle here.

The seminar, organised as part of Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary celebrations, was also attended by former Union minister Oscar Fernandes and ex-Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, also chairman of the Circle, among others.

Attacking the Sangh, the Congress general secretary claimed RSS is the "most powerful, but not registered" organisation which was "running" the ruling party as well as the central government.

"It (RSS) is the only body in the country which is most powerful, but not registered yet. It has no membership. There is no account, there is no audit. Yet, it is the most powerful organisation which is running the BJP, not only the party, but the government," he claimed.

During his speech, Singh also drew comparisons between "socio-economic development model of Gandhi-Nehru-Ambedkar" and the "so-called Gujarat model".

He said the Gujarat model is allegedly about providing lands to corporate houses at cheaper rates along with tax concessions.On the other hand, Singh noted, the model of Gandhi-Nehru-Ambedkar is about development of all including deprived sections.

Singh also hailed UPA Government's initiatives like MGNREGA, RTI, RTE and food security.

"I am happy that Modiji who had opposed these schemes earlier (as Chief Minister of Gujarat), is at the forefront of claiming credit for the programmes," he added.

Showering praises on Ambedkar, Singh said the architect of the Constitution "belongs to all" and not only Dalits.

"He was a spokesman of those who were deprived. He not only had a legal mind, but was also a social reformer, an economist. Even (economist) Amartya Sen considers Ambedkar as his guru," Singh added.

Singh urged "anti-RSS and those fighting for deprived" to join the social media network to fight "Sanghis" online, and lamented that he was being "trolled" for his views.